Wayne County Rural League
2023 Fast Pitch Rules
9U

Wayne County Rural League follows the IHSAA rules for softball with the following
modifications/additions. Any other rules are not valid or enforceable.
Rule 1 – Field & Equipment
Section 1 - Field
• Base lines will be 60’
• Pitching Rubber or chalk line will be 35’ with 16’ circle
• 15’ Arc from home plate arching from 1st base foul line to 3rd base foul line
Section 2 – Softballs
• Size = 11”
• Cor = .47
• Compression = 375 lbs
• Home team will provide 2-ball for every game (1 new & 1 used)
Section 3 – Bats
• Bear either the 2000, 2004 or the USA Softball All Games certification mark
• Must not appear on USA Softball’s Non-Approved Bats with Certification Marks list.
(www.usasoftball.com)
• Wood batts do not need to bear mark but cannot exceed 2 1⁄4” in diameter
Section 4 – Helmets
• Must include attached face mask
• If chinstraps are worn, they must be worn securely under the chin.
• Mandatory when at bat, on base paths, or in on-deck circle
Section 5 – Catcher’s Equipment
• Catcher’s helmet with face mask
• Body (Chest) protector
• Protective shin guards
Section 6 – Other Equipment
• Heart guard for all player/pitchers
• Face Mask for all infielders

Rule 2 – Players, Substitutes and Coaches
Section 1 – Players, Positions
• Age of player is determined by age on January 1st.
• Minimum of 7 players to start game
o Game may be rescheduled if player shortage is known prior to game start.
• 10 Players on the field - 4 outfields – no rover
• All rostered players will bat
• All rostered players must play a minimum of 1 inning in the field and 1 at bat in a
completed game
• Benched player due to disciplinary reasons, opposing coach must be notified prior to
start of game
• Maximum number of players present – all must play
• Remain in dugouts during game
• Team must have a catcher (rostered player)
• Pitcher position must start with one foot inside the 16’ circle while the ball is pitched
• NO jewelry or barrettes
o Earrings
o Necklaces
o Ankle or Wrist Bracelets
o Rings
o Watches
o Pins or bobby pins
• NO cell phones
Section 2 – Substituting
• Player(s) may be brought up from a lower division to bring a team to 10 players
o Lower division commitment comes 1st – if game scheduled, player is not eligible
to play up
o Must be a registered player on a league team and on a roster in the community
o Opposing coach must be notified at the start of game of move up player(s)
o Permanent move up – league commissioner must be notified – player cannot
return to lower division

• Late Arrival
o Team starts with less than 10 players, players can play

o Team starts with 10 players, arrives before 3rd inning and is on lineup card,
eligible as a sub. Arrives after the start of 3rd inning, ineligible to play.
o Player brought up will remain in the game, even if late players enter.
• No Offensive Substitutions
• No automatic out if team is playing with less than 9 players
Section 3 – Injured/Ejected Player
• Ejected player will be an out when they come up in the batting order
• Injured player will be an out when they come up in the batting order
• Injured player that was removed, may re-enter the game
• Bleeding
o Injured player must be removed from game and cleaned up
o Open wounds must be covered
o Clothing with blood on it must be changed
o Once bleeding has stopped, player may re-enter the game, at umpire’s discretion
o Game can be stopped for player to get ready

Section 4 – Coaching
• No swearing or obscene gestures at practice or games
• No smoking or chewing tobacco products on the field or in the dugout
o Penalties
 1st offense – Automatic ejection from game and suspended from
following game
 2nd offense – Banned from participation in any game function (i.e.
scorekeeper)

• Adult Pitcher
o No Walks
o Strike out – 3 swings or 6 pitches, except on foul ball
 6th pitch foul – batter receives another pitch
 6th pitch hits pitcher - dead ball and batter receives another pitch
o Pitcher can stand anywhere between pitching rubber (mound) and 15’ arc
o Picks up bat after contact has been made
o Cannot coach base runners
Rule 3 – Starting and Ending Game
Section 1 – Games
• 6 inning game
• 6 run limit per inning/per team
• 90-minute time limit

o Championship game in tournament has no time limit
 Run/Mercy rule applies until the 6th inning - unlimited

Section 2 – Staring a Game
• 15-minute grace period is allowed before game is called a forfeit.
• Umpire is to announce official start time
Section 3 – Ending a Game
• Game is tied at end of 6 innings – umpire’s discretion to continue or call due to darkness
o If called due to darkness – reschedule at earliest convenient time to complete
• 15-minute warning is to be given prior to time limit expiring
• Upon reaching time limit – inning is to be completed
Rule 4 – Suspension of Play
• When thunder is heard or lightning in any form (cloud-to-cloud, cloud-to-ground, etc.) is
seen, which means that the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with
lightning, play will be suspended.
• Once play has been suspended, resumption of play, if warranted, should not occur until
at least 30 minutes has passed since the last thunder was heard or last flash of lightning
was witnessed.
• 30-minute clock restarts when thunder is heard, or lightning witnessed again.
• Games cancelled due to rain or the above conditions
o Less than 4 innings completed – game starts over
o 4 or more completed innings (top of the 5th or more) will be considered a
complete game
Rule 5 – Batter & Defense
Section 1 – Fair vs Foul
• Ball inside the 15’ arc – Foul
• Ball touched by fielder and then lands in 15’ arc – Fair
• Ball hits beyond 15’ arc then rolls back inside 15’ arc – Foul
• Ball stops on 15’ arc line – Fair
Section 2 – Defense
• No infield fly rule
• Must have possession of ball in order to block runner’s access to base
• Blocking without possession – runner will be awarded the base
• Player in possession of the ball must try to make a play (if one is available)

• Player in possession of the ball must try to make a play prior to passing ball onto
player/pitcher
• Play is over
o Pitcher has possession of the ball inside the 16’ circle
o Lead runner has stopped, and umpire has called “time”

Section 3 – Other
• No bunting, slapping, or any variations of the “short game” is permitted
• Player pitcher must have both feet inside the pitching circle when the ball is pitched.
Rule 6 – Batter- Runner and Runner
• Base runner that comes into contact with a batted ball is out
• If batted ball is touched by a defensive player first (other than the pitcher) or defensive
player makes a reasonable attempt at the ball, runner is safe and my advance at their
own risk
• Batter is hit by batted ball outside the batter’s box and in fair territory, is out
• Base runners CANNOT steal
• Base runners are allowed to leave the base upon contact of ball by the batter
• Base runner leaving prior to contact by batter is out
• Thrown Bat
o 1st Offense – batter is warned and play stands
o 2nd Offense – batter is out. All runners return to original base
o Warning is per batter not per team
o Umpire determines bat was thrown in anger, player may be ejected without
warning
• Courtesy Runner
o Opposing coach must be notified prior to start of game
o Used for pitcher, catcher, or injured player
o Enter after pitcher/catcher/injured player is safe and play has stopped.
• Sliding at home is not required
• Overthrow
o Base runner may only advance 1 base (per batted ball)
o Advancement is at own risk
o Additional overthrows DOES NOT result in an additional base

Rule 7 – Scoring and Record Keeping
• Home team scorebook is the official book, unless there is evidence of tampering
• All teams must keep score.
• All ties for 1st and 2nd place in the league will be determined by the following tie
breakers:
o Head to Head
o Runs Allowed
o Runs Scored
• Games not played/made up prior to tournament will be a forfeit for both teams
• All regular season games must be played prior to the tournament
• Tie Game
o Each team will start the inning with runner on 2nd base and 1 out
o The last out from the previous inning will be the runner starting on 2nd base

Rule 8 – Umpiring
• A commissioner cannot umpire tourney
• Umpires DO NOT need to be patched
• Umpires control games
o If a coach argues a call in a disrespectful manner – warning will be given, and
coach is restricted to the bench
o If a 2nd warning is given, the coach will be ejected
o Upon 2nd warning, commissioners will be notified, and a verbal warning will be
given
o If conduct is repeated after above verbal warning, commissioners will determine
if the coach may return in the future.

Rule 9 – Others specific to WCRL
• Games need rescheduled, but not necessarily played, within 7 days
• Failure by the home team, or commissioner, to contact the opposing team, will result in
forfeit by home team
• All other reschedules must be approved

Rule 10 – Zero Tolerance
No tolerance is defined as any action including but not limited to swearing, arguing, fighting,
heckling, threatening, acting out or not following the rules in any way.
Coaches may discuss a call within a controlled and respectful manner only. Prior to the start of
every game the umpire will notify the coaches of this rule and the coach is responsible for
his/her team and their fans. An announcement will also be made by the umpire to the crowd
before the start of the game.
The umpire or commissioner has the authority to remove the violator
Commissioner can over-rule the umpire decision on a case by case basis
Consequences of violation:
• Coach or Player – 1 game suspension (next scheduled game)
• Spectator(s) – Anyone causing a disturbance with umpires or coaches will be asked to
leave the property of the ball diamond. If they refuse to leave, their team will forfeit the
game. If offending spectator is a parent/guardian, both parent/guardian and player will
be ejected from that game and the commissioners will be notified. The player may
return to the next game. If the same parent repeatedly causes issues, they will be
banned from all WCRL properties for one year. An ejected person has the right to
dispute the suspension by contacting their league’s commissioner